Elsa Flores – St. Louis, MO & Sophia Strong – Shorewood, IL 

Decades after its creation, Americans proclaimed their nation as a “melting pot”: a unified country that combined identities and customs into one unique culture. As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, students and professionals at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) reflect on whether or not this title captures what American culture is made of. Due to the upcoming anniversary of the United States, University of Missouri history professor Jay Sexton is bringing attention to the idea that the melting pot title might have been used for different intentions than what was immediately assumed. 

“I’m not a huge fan of that interpretation,” Sexton said. “The idea that America’s a melting pot, and that the people who advocated [for] that did so on the grounds that they wanted to take immigrants, black people and Indians and smoosh them in and say, ’oh, we’re all melting into one’, when really, what they meant was ‘you’re all gonna be like us,'” Sexton said. 

To counter the idea of America consisting of one blended soup made up of different herbs, spices, and broth, Professor Sexton argues that the United States culture is more similar to a salad bowl. 

“[America] doesn’t melt into a soup; there’s different parts, but taken together they’re all part of the same dish, the same thing, but they retain their individual autonomy and diversity,” Sexton said. 

The differentiating factor between characterizing the United States as a melting pot or a salad bowl is whether the people fuse their customs to become one warm and smooth pot of soup, or keep their personal cultures close, to make a bowl where vegetables, crunchy lettuce, and cheese work together to make a refreshing salad. 

Mizzou student Ian Dowda believes that in the case of the United States, the lines are blurred. 

“I like the idea of America as a melting pot, but there are definitely some salad bars across the country,” Dowda said. “There are lots of places that are very opportune for other people, so you can bring your culture and be a melting pot in a different location.” 

As an immigrant from Ethiopia, Abel Brahne, a Mizzou incoming junior, experienced finding his place at the dinner table in a different way. For Brahne, community came from the people most similar to his situation. 

“I get involved in clubs involving Mizzou East Africans,” Brahne said. “Most East Africans go there. We do networking and talk to different people from different majors, or older [students about] how to get an internship.” 

Brahne has lived in Columbia since high school; for him, campus organizations exposed him to different flavors and spreads that have shaped his time at Mizzou. These on-campus experiences changed his perspective on community and have encouraged him to venture out from his typical palate.

“Most of the people [in East African’s club] are from one country,” Brahne said. “But if you join different clubs, …. there’s more kind[s] of people involved.” 

When categorizing the culture of the United States, Sexton believes it is necessary to look beyond the hue of the bowl and into the folds of the bite, in order to differentiate the people from a coexisting bowl of leafy greens and pot of America soup. 

“It’s not just racial, there’s [been] a lot of talk in recent years about intellectual or ideological diversity. There’s students who are conservative as well as left-wing students, and they might have the same skin color, but they certainly look at the world very differently.” 

While Sexton believes that the ideological differences of American people provide evidence of America as a bowl of Caesar or Greek, Russian international student Daria Bykovskia took the unified social structures of the Mizzou community as proof of America as a bowl of Borscht, an Eastern European delicacy. 

“It’s a cultural shock [that] you get your first days here,” Bykovskia said. “Adjusting to a new mentality, a new social context and learning to navigate around it, and learning new social cues, it’s like starting over and learning to interact with society again.” 

In distinction to the social structure of her university, Bykovskia recognizes that different customs can coexist within one community to form its identity. 

“All those different mindsets living in one place can sometimes create conflicts and separation. In my eyes, [America] is divided into smaller or bigger communities, and they might be a bit separated from one another to a certain degree, but overall they create the country that the U.S. is today.” 

Although the community at Mizzou may feel that the United States is unique because of the presence of individuals, the commonality among opinions is that the characterization of America as a pot of creamy soup or a bowl of crackly salad is, at the end of the day, subjective. “Maybe a charcuterie board?” Mizzou student Damian Maynard said.

Valerie Sepulveda – Peñitas, Texas; Nathan Clouse, Houston, Texas; Ayrton Geiger – O’Fallon, IllinoisValerie Sepulveda – Peñitas, Texas; Nathan Clouse, Houston, Texas; Ayrton Geiger – O’Fallon, Illinois

Every one in seven people are impacted by food insecurity. The Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri works with volunteers and other food pantries to serve those in need. 

Katie Adkins, a spokesperson for the food bank, explains how the organization repackages food to give to those who truly need it. “We all understand what a difference not having dinner would make in our day,” Adkins said.

With the food bank’s 45th anniversary approaching, they hope to meet an important volunteer goal. 

The challenge is simple: They’re asking volunteers to donate 45 hours of their time before September 10.

Campus visitors Melissa and Camryn Guevara said that, “helping out food banks is important for helping out the community.” 

They also said if people can’t donate food then people should try to donate their money or time. 

Food insecurities are felt across the country. 

The Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri is just one of the thousands of food banks advocating for a change. 

In 2025, volunteers helped deliver 21 million meals though over 76,000 hours served. 

Although this is not enough of an impact to fix the crisis, the food bank supports thousands across Missouri.

The organization follows an ideal that Adkins shared, “Food is universal, it’s something we all need.”

Writers: Phoebe Fuerst – Memphis, TN; Julian Wilson, Clayton, MO; Mari Kradjian – San Diego, CA

Video By: Kylie Zavodny, Blue Springs, MO

A suitcase or less, a culture left behind, a family waiting in the United States — this is the story of thousands of immigrants from across the world finding refuge in the U.S.; some of those seeking the American dream.

The fulfillment of the subjective, and sometimes elusive, American dream can vary drastically for these immigrants. Even when success materializes, there are countless challenges that people might face on the way. At the dawn of America’s 250th birthday, immigrant-owned businesses in Columbia showcase success stories that have become a part of local culture.

Raw Roots Turmeric 

When Ranjan Hans immigrated to America from India more than 20 years ago, the American dream meant supporting her husband’s career and building a stable life for their new family.

Hans said her husband came to the United States to continue his scientific fellowship, while she focused on raising their two children in a foreign country. 

“I was just doing the things that I thought needed to be done at that time,” Hans said. “My whole focus was to let him focus on his career. Let me focus on raising the kids.”

Hans said moving to America was a slow process. The culture shock involved not knowing the language and not having her traditional foods, changes that were difficult to get accustomed to. She said watching the Weather Channel every day helped her eventually understand the American accent.

However, as Hans settled into life in Missouri, her idea of the American dream began to change. Instead of having to focus on survival and building life in America, Hans got more time to bring a piece of her homeland to her new country. She and her husband realized they could not find the same fresh, medicinal herbs that were rooted in their daily life in India.

“We were looking for that particular taste, that particular pureness, that particular rawness, which was hard to find,” Hans said.

Rather than accepting that loss, Hans and her husband began growing the herbs themselves as they valued letting “other people … taste it and have a firsthand experience of all these herbs.” Their dream of bringing a piece of their home to America eventually became Raw Roots Turmeric, a Columbian farm specializing in fresh turmeric, shwagandha, moringa, neem, ginger, and other Ayurvedic herbs. Their business was among several represented at a recent Columbia Farmers Market.

“Many, many people are looking for a holistic way or natural way to heal their body,” Hans said. “So … that’s how we started (Raw Roots Tumeric) when COVID happened in 2020.”

When Hans came to America, her dream involved supporting her husband’s career and wanting a better life. Today, however, that dream has shifted with Hans believing that the American dream is about turning an idea into something that benefits others and bringing traditions from India.

“See, (the) American dream is something when people think of something, create an idea, and make it into reality. And many … can just trust that brand. I think that’s the dream of any business or American dream, right?” Hans said. “Raw Roots Turmeric is all about creating scientific-based products, and so that people can really use it and find it really, really helpful. It’s not just a business (for business sake).”

Myanmar Kitchen 

Columbia’s Myanmar Kitchen, 1301 Vandiver Drive, Ste J, was established by Saw Saw Aate and her family, who have carried their Burmese culture into the Columbian scene. Amidst a resurgence of the long-lasting Myanmar Civil War, the nation is in turmoil as a result of the current conflict between the now-ruling military junta and the National Unity Government (NUG) and its official armed division, the People’s Defense Force (PDF). The junta took power after a military coup in 2021 and now garners support from nations such as Russia and China, while the NUG and PDF consist of pro-democracy rebels, according to The Global Conflict Tracker.

As a result of the conflict, Aate fled Myanmar and came to Columbia, where she opened her restaurant in 2024, one of the only kitchens of its kind, as “some (American) states have Burmese food, but Columbia doesn’t,” Aate said.

“Sometimes we miss our country, our food, so we work until very tired, and we want to eat our food easily … I like the cooking, and some of my friends want to eat, too,” Aate said.

As the largest group of refugees in Columbia, the city’s Burmese population has woven its own tightly-knit community quilt. Aate said she found support in the company of her family and friends as she was establishing her restaurant. 

“We don’t have an education here, so everything is very, very hard for me … and my sister, some of my friends helped, and we built this restaurant,” Aate said.

Aate said she continues to find comfort in the companionship of her family, as she operates her restaurant with the help of her husband, Joseph Mangsen, and her sons, Kap Tuang, 11, and Chung Mung, 9.

With support of the Burmese community behind her, Aate delivers Burmese culture to many Americans in Columbia. They make up “most of my customers … so more people taste my food … I’m proud,” Aate said. 

Regarding her home country of Myanmar, Aate said, “I’m sad for my country, my parents, my mom, my dad and some of my sisters … It’s so bad.”

Without losing sight of her love for her culture, Aate said she is content with the work she has done and the cultural space she has cultivated, “Yes, I’m happy.”

G&D Steakhouse 

G&D Steakhouse is a family-owned restaurant whose current location, 2001 W. Worley St., opened in 1970. The business is based on a culture of family connection and love for all of their customers. Four generations of the Aslanidis family, who immigrated from Greece, have worked at the store, from the original founders – Dino, Gus and George, the namesake of the steakhouse – to the current owners, their children and grandchildren.

“It’s such a blessing that I get to work with my kids and my mother-in-law, my father-in-law,” Kalene Aslanidis said. “If we weren’t working together, we wouldn’t be as close as we are. For 28 years, we’ve worked, I mean, most (days) together.”

Aslanidis started working for G&D Steakhouse at 15, and four years later, she began dating Micheal Aslanidis, who is a part of the third generation of the steakhouse legacy.  They eventually married and had two children who now work at the restaurant. Whether it was customers witnessing her earn a degree at the University of Missouri, to the baby blankets that regulars made for her when she was pregnant, to the birthdays, Mother’s Days and everything in between, Kalene Aslanidis has shared her life with customers in her 28 years of experience at the restaurant. The regulars that eat at the restaurant have become family in many ways to those who work there because of the connections made with every loyal customer.

“We’ve got a really special thing in Columbia with so many people that have just come in and their kids come in and their grandkids come in. And … there’s so many people that I remember like they’ll bring their babies here to eat before they even go home from the hospital,” Aslanidis said. “And so I see these babies that are now in college that (I) saw when they were two days old, three days old.”

The now-success of G&D Steakhouse was not without its ups and down, however. Along with the typical challenges of owning a business (long hours, finding a building, gaining a customer base), immigrating to America from small villages in Greece posed more problems.

Current owner Elly Aslanidis came with little money and virtually no knowledge of the English language, learning almost the entirety of what she knows from her customers rather than any traditional schooling.

Early on, Aslanidis worked about 78 hours a week, leaning on her family, who worked with her for support. She was originally on track to America to follow her father, Gus, and her uncle — both of whom wanted to make a better life for themselves than what Greece had the capacity to offer them.

Kalene Aslanidis said, “When grandpa Gus passed away, I just remember thinking what a good life he’s lived because he came, literally, he made such a gamble. He sold everything he had. He had (nothing), there was no going back to Greece … they had literally dollars in their pocket. But when he passed away, he got to see all four of his kids be successful, all of his grandkids to be grown and to be successful. And to get to see his great-grandkids be born here … and so I’m like (you know) what? That’s the American dream.”

By: Gabriella Griffin – Carmel, Indiana; Charlotte Ely – Eureka, MO; Parker Billingham – Wentzville, MO; Sadie Kelley – Salt Lake City, Utah

By: Anna Gardner, Grapevine, TX; Kylie Dahlquist, Blue Springs, MO; Jonathan Lanier, Chicago, IL

July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. This date brings Americans from all parts of the US together to celebrate the pursuit of freedom and prosperity. For many Americans, this is also a time to reflect on the United States growth in the face of challenges, both world-wide and within its borders. This choice to persevere is a part of many of its people’s stories.

Immigrants coming to America have reflected this choice consistently. As countless numbers leave behind a life without opportunity and safety, they come to America seeking the values that have defined its history. As a testament to this strength, the Statue of Liberty held her torch of freedom over the many immigrants sailing into New York Harbor. The poem at her base represented the world they came for. In this poem, The New Colossus, Emma Larazus writes, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

With recent changes to the federal government’s policy on immigration and its enforcement of deportation, it has become more difficult for immigrants to enter the country and build a life of stability. But even with these changes, there remain many organizations that can help provide support. Many of these organizations are based in local communities, where they can take a direct approach in helping those coming to the area. One of these organizations is City of Refuge. This non-profit organization, based in Columbia, gives immigrants direct support based on “…relational care, education, and development,” Garret Rucinski, Director of Engagement at City of Refuge, stated in an interview. “Those are kind of our three pillars.”

There are a variety of programs for each of these ‘pillars’, several of which Rucinski was more than willing to explain. “Yeah, we have over 300 weekly volunteers now.” One of the things that City Of Refuge relies on is the work of volunteers and interns. Rucinski explained that with the help of these individuals, many from diverse backgrounds including retirees and professors, they can work on a variety of projects tackling frequent challenges. They work with fundraising, community outreach, education, and basic needs. Within this work, many of the volunteers form relationships with those receiving support from the projects. These connections provide support and stability beyond the projects’ reach, and after the immigrants find a foothold in the community, provides someone to reach out to.

Home of Refuge provides other support as well.
They offer a driving program, English classes, and legal advice. Rucinski stated the organization also has an artisans studio, which allows immigrants to learn to make art which can be sold in the Boutique that Home of Refuge runs. He talked about a section of the store labeled the Global Artisans. “The Global Artisans are over 10 of our different refugees, mostly women, who have started their own businesses in their homes.” He explained they create jewelry, purses, and many other designs. “Those proceeds go 100% to our refugee friends…” He added.

With every one of the projects and with all the support they give, the main goal of the organization has always been to help the immigrants get to the point of stability where they can thrive. As Rucinski states, “The goal is to move them from safe to stable, but then stable to thriving. So we want everybody to thrive, and that could be different sectors of their life.”

Rucinski continued, “So looking at people not just as a one-size-fits-all approach, but asking in all aspects of this individual’s lives if you want to see them thrive.”

One of the main ways Home of Refuge was able to expand from their roots of volunteer garage sales was through the opening of their City Boutique, located at 10 N Garth Ave, in Columbia.

This thrift store accounts for 5% of their annual net worth, and provides a way to discuss further support. Through the customer’s purchases, they were able to buy a larger building last year. This building will allow for their programs to reach a wider group, and provide more options to the
community for support.

The 250th anniversary of the United States of America is a time of celebration, but it should also be at time for reflection. As Rucinski, towards the end of the interview, put it: “As America approaches its 250th year, we ask ourselves, like, what makes America America? That is, again,
a melting pot of people from all over the world who refuse to give up, who work to survive and get back to a place of thriving, which is what we do here.”

By: Jada Sterling – Orlando, Florida; Grace Kwak, Overland Park, Kansas

Colby Huisingay, a high school student, understands America. He understands what divides the United States and what can bring a country together. In a city like Columbia during an event like the World Cup, the connection can be about sports.

“It brings a lot of people together because a lot of people in America like to argue, but when it comes to sports they like to come together and support one team,” Huisingay said.  

It’s not just super fans like Huisingay, who was headed to Thursday’s World Cup game between the Netherlands and Tunisia. Plenty of people that attend and discuss sports are casual spectators, like Julia Jackson — who prefers hiking over competing in events.

“I think that [sports] are a way of bringing people together and especially prior to [social] media, it really gave an entertainment factor for a large group of people,” Jackson said.

Columbia, a college town that is home to the University of Missouri and its Southeastern Conference sports teams, sees those groups gather regularly. 

“Living here in Columbia, and watching everyone who gets together for the Mizzou football games—I mean, it’s the entire city!—the culture and camaraderie and ritual absolutely connects this whole place together,” professor Kelsey Tolchin-Kupferer said.

Sports are so deeply rooted in American culture that foreigners can see how much pride Americans show for their nation. Juan Giraldo, who was visiting from Colombia to watch the World Cup, noted a difference between Latin and American sporting pride.  

“I come from Latin America and we usually just care about soccer, and that’s pretty much it,” Giraldo said. “But here in the U.S. there are tons of sports, so you’re always following something different: baseball, then American football, basketball season, some people follow golf.”

Those bonds come from watching sports, but there are connections formed by playing them together as well. 

Joscleyne Gross, a volleyball coach — and a sports fan — sees a special bond between her athletes. 

“There are girls who will have issues on and off the court, but on the court they’re very united … and no matter what, you’re gonna feel a connection towards each other,” Gross said.

Those bonds between athletes can extend beyond the actual competition. 

Gracie Heydecker, a high school cheerleader, admires athletes’ hard work when she’s watching a game — which is another kind of connection over sports. 

“I kinda get the feeling of those people on the field, and I appreciate what they’re doing,” Heydecker said.

No matter what someone’s background is — a sports fan, an athlete, a casual spectator — sports brings people together in a special way. 

“People can have different views about everything, but sports can really allow everyone to have a relationship to something, and just keep them connected,” Gross said.

By Eleanor Loznicka, Downers Grove; Kiersten Straigis,Broken Arrow, OK; Hannah Lange, Olathe, KS; Caidan Curran, Chicago, IL

As locals and visitors in Columbia prepare to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial, community leaders and first responders are keeping safety a top priority. 

Alongside the possibility of larger crowds at this year’s Fire in the Sky celebration, the heat has also become a prominent concern. However, event organizers and safety personnel plan to manage those challenges while keeping things running smoothly.

The Columbia Parks and Recreation Department has been putting on a community fireworks display for decades. This will be the 74th year for the display, which also aligns with America’s 250th birthday. The department has been working on plans for this celebration, which include live entertainment, food trucks, and activities for kids. 

Moira Theis, recreation specialist of special events at the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, said city officials expect Fire in the Sky to draw a larger audience due to the holiday’s significance. 

“We hope there is” going to be a larger audience turn out than previous years, Theis said. The events marketing team has seen an uptake in the number of people expressing interest in attending through the team’s promotions, she said. 

Brian McNeill, Columbia Police Department spokesperson, said in email that the department is deploying a plan “which will be the same as in previous years.” 

McNeil didn’t comment on possible crowd sizes or possible precautions in case a larger crowd attends.  

Theis said the parks department works with police “several times throughout the year to be able to prepare for these larger events” and that “ the Columbia Police Department, specifically, is very aware that it might be a higher attendance here, but there’s enough staff” to handle any problems.

Skyler Clark, public information specialist for the Columbia Fire Department, said there are many regulations governing safety at events like Fire in the Sky.

 “All fireworks launch sites undergo multiple inspections and must comply with National Fire Protection Association” regulations governing the safe setup, operation, and conduct of outdoor professional fireworks displays, Clark said.

Spectators will be kept outside designated fallout zones, and each launch site will have fire safety personnel and fire extinguishers on hand, Clark said.

The department will deploy one fire truck, two quick-response vehicles, four firefighters, two fire marshals, and two chief officers during the event, she said.

Handling the heat

Clark noted that heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, are the department’s biggest concern this year, especially as larger crowds are expected due to both the 74th annual Fire in the Sky celebration and the nation’s 250th anniversary. 

Fire officials will monitor conditions throughout the event and adjust their response as needed.

Meteorologists predict a high of 92 degrees. 

Theis said the city is more prepared than in past years.

“We will have a sponsor hydration station, by Supplement Superstore. They’re bringing out water and handing out different materials to make sure that everybody has access to water even if they don’t have their water bottles.”

Theis said she saw hydration stations “at a different event. I was like, we can absolutely do that! it’s just a general great enhancement to the actual event.”

She said that all of the department’s full-time staff will be there, and “we are all certified crowd managers. We also have EMS services, search team, on site, and at our first aid stations.” 

By: Vir Seth, Long Grove, Illinois; Lexa Opp, Overland Park, KS;  Willow Untz, Ozark, MO; Cecilia Hutt Lozano, Dallas, TX.

As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, a Missouri researcher says Missourians are facing some really tough challenges. Brent Never, who studies the implications of decentralized human service systems and serves as an associate public affairs professor at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, says some of the most prevalent quality-of-life issues facing Missourians are housing, transportation, and healthcare. Never explains that costs are steadily increasing much faster than wages, squeezing middle and working-class families the most.

“The cost to buy a home, or to rent, has increased much faster than take-home pay in the past five years,” Never said. “This means that Missourians increasingly have to grapple with whether they can afford to live here given how much they make, and of course, this is a similar challenge on a national level.” 

From a local standpoint, people in Columbia have their own opinions on the issues affecting their quality-of-life and are ready for their voices to be heard. As the memorable birthday of the nation nears, some citizens and visitors of the college town are concerned about the state of the country. Instead of feeling patriotic, many are apprehensive about making ends meet amid the current political climate. 

“I would say economic things, you know, making sure there’s enough jobs that people want to do, so that the kids who are graduating from our university have some way to earn a living,” Donny Moore, a long-time Columbian resident, said.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the current unemployment rate in Columbia is 3.3%, and the current unemployment rate in Missouri sits at 4.3%. Data shows that unemployment can directly affect college students post-graduation, but it also affects people of all ages’ ability to access education itself.

 For more than six decades, Job Point has connected individuals to job opportunities and provided career planning assistance. John Scalise, president and CEO of the Missouri-based organization, voiced his concerns about the state’s approach to accessible education for residents and the effect low job availability poses to proper education for students.

 “When it comes to education, if you don’t have money to move to a different part of town, the school that you attend and those options get less, and there just aren’t as many public options available for folks if they’re in that situation,” said Scalise.

Since September of 2025, Job Point has helped 405 individuals find long-lasting jobs, with 87% of them remaining employed today.

Another pressing concern that’s affecting many central Missourians is transportation. Recently, Missouri lawmakers passed legislation for a $2.5 million budget to be allocated for public transportation. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has until July 15th to sign House Bill (HB 2004). Gov. Kehoe previously proposed reducing the state’s $6.7 million funding for public transportation to $1.7 million in January. In addition, it is difficult to move around central Missouri with numerous ongoing construction projects on I-70 in an attempt to upgrade the highway and make it more accessible to residents of neighboring states. This comes as Columbia is experiencing a bus driver shortage due to many drivers failing to sustain their CDL licenses. 

Nationally, and across the Show-Me State, women’s rights to healthcare is also a highly debated topic. Recently, the ban on abortion-related healthcare in Missouri was partially lifted. The decision to lift the ban, with some restrictions, came to reality through the hard work of Missouri citizens who petitioned to put abortion back on the ballot. Along with reproductive rights, many people in Missouri are worried about access to basic healthcare. There is a statewide deficit in primary care physicians, proven by Missouri’s rank of third highest in the nation as a Health Professional Shortage Area.

Rising Mizzou freshman London Light and her mother, Jillian Mackey, were exploring Columbia while in town from Chicago for Summer Welcome. Mackey says she’s concerned about the current state of reproductive rights in America. While she is optimistic about her daughter furthering her education, she understands the real-life threats to her daughter’s personal freedoms. 

“We’ve kind of taken a step back,” said Mackey, “you know, my mom didn’t have to worry about her rights, and now I’m worried about my rights, and my daughter’s rights.”

While Missourians face a variety of challenges related to quality-of-life, some have ideas for solutions. Light believes people can make a change in their communities.

 “Be able to use your voice and not fear for anything, and obviously use your voice in the right way, and not the wrong way,” she explained.

Taking a stand was also a popular opinion among other Columbia residents, like Marta Hura, who believes, “We could be doing more by contacting our people in power and asking them to do better.”

The growing homeless population is another local issue on residents’ minds. Data shows that 309 people in Columbia were unhoused in 2025. This is nearly a 4.5% increase since 2023. According to Love Columbia, a local nonprofit organization, one in five Columbians live in poverty. 

Marsha Waters, a representative at the Missouri Connections for Health Rural Unhoused Helpline, does housing assessments and handles client intake for the nonprofit. Waters said, in recent years, there has been an increase in people seeking wraparound services.

 “There’s not enough landlords that want to work with unhoused people,” said Waters.

In regards to America’s direction for the next 50 years, many individuals share similar opinions about the biggest quality-of-life issues they believe they are facing today.

 Light and Mackey said that they believe America has made a “180 in the wrong direction.” 

National concerns are mirrored locally. Even though CoMo is known for being a premier college town, underneath its academic appeal, locals still face continuous challenges. 

 “People come to Columbia because they think Columbia has a lot of resources…which we don’t have,” said Waters. 

Kevin Smith understands the struggles involved in accessing basic resources. He believes that despite the challenges Missouri and the United States are facing, there’s still hope for the nation’s future.

Smith recommended, “If America puts its focus on the right things, the things that matter, not just morals that are changing depending on circumstances, but morals that are stable and consistent, then I think America could get in a really good place.”

By: Henry Hassenstab, St. Louis MO, Allie Smith, Trabuco Canyon, CA. Meredith Chao, Taipei, Taiwan; Brayden Hsieh, Dallas Texas

Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the United States has evolved into one of the world’s most developed nations, and endured major wars, economic depressions, civil rights movements, and even international terrorism. 

But despite the hardships, every year on July 4, Americans gather to celebrate the country’s birthday and this year is extra special —  the U.S. will be celebrating its semiquincentennial, or better known as its 250th anniversary. 

As Americans pull out their grills and fireworks to ring in the country’s birthday, some are questioning if the U.S. can withstand another 250 years as a country and nation. 

Data from a December 2025 Pew Research poll expresses that 59% of American adults are under the impression that the nation’s best days are behind them. This marks a 10% increase compared to data from 2014, where 49% of Americans believe that the U.S.’s best days have already passed. 

In Columbia, Ella Castro, 23, said  “(my) patriotism isn’t high right now just because I’m not super proud of our country and our President.”  

According to an April 2026 Pew Research Center survey, 37% of Americans ages 18-29 believe the U.S. government will work better looking ahead to 2050, compared to 42% of Americans around the ages 30-49.

“The nation’s youngest adults tend to express more pessimistic views than the country’s older adults. Young adults are also less inclined than older people to say that overall, they are optimistic when they think ahead to 2050,” said the survey. 

Castro said she believes that, “no one feels welcomed,” in America. “We’re seeing a little bit of community with the World Cup right now and it’s kind of interesting to see some of the athletes feel uncomfortable and not welcomed”.   

Leo McDaniel, a 27 year-old trans man feels similarly about the state of the country. 

“[I remember] nostalgically being very proud to be an American, and proud of your neighbors. Now when I think of [the Fourth\\ of July], all I think of is toxic patriotism,” they said. “I also just think [we] are celebrating something that never really was there, because a lot of Americans now are waking up to an America that people of color, gay people, trans people, have been living in for their whole lives. The American dream is very whitewashed.”

This disillusionment of the “American Dream” and its ideals that the holiday strives to uphold is not just being criticized by McDaniel but also by the general American people. 

As approval ratings for President Donald J. Trump declined both in the U.S. and Missouri, it seems the public’s outlook for the future drops as well. According to the New York Times’ research and polling as of June 2026, President Trump’s national approval rating is a mere 38%, compared to a disapproval rating of 59%. Last June, Trump’s approval rating was at 44%, which marks a 6% contrast over a year. 

Since May 2025, Americans have been able to participate in 4th of July celebrations, called Freedom 250, orchestrated by a Trump supported board. The fair will include several events, such as the Salute to America celebration, which features musical performances and firework celebrations. Several musicians such as ‘The Commodores’ have cancelled their performances however, as they did not wish to align themselves with any particular political party. The event will instead be headlined by Trump himself,  including a musical performance by country singer Alexis Wilkins. 

Similarly in Missouri, a poll by Saint Louis University found that President Trump’s state approval rating fell from 56% in February of 2025 to 52% in February 2026. 

For many Americans, it’s hard to have a positive outlook on the nation’s future when they believe that President Trump is leading the nation poorly. 

“Our president [says] that I [as a trans person] deserve to die. And that’s really awful, and it’s also really bad because I feel like I can’t be myself.” said McDaniel.

For Semaj Montgomery and Vivianna Deken, both incoming college students, expressed that the aspect of the U.S. that stands out to them is its diversity. 

On the streets near the University of Missouri campus, Montgomery says that without diversity, the U.S. would be “pretty boring.” 

Similarly, Deken agrees with this viewpoint and thinks that it is “really great that a lot of people can come here [to America] for different reasons and be accepted culturally.” 

Colleen Rieman, a 30 year-old living in Missouri, appreciates having “the ability to have different opinions [and] your own freedom.” However, she does note that ever since President Trump returned to office in January of 2025 that, “[he] is trying to take away those freedoms, so it’s hard to celebrate.”

For some residents in Missouri, they believe that a recurring problem in America is the country’s obsession over money. 

Akiram White, a 20 year old journalism student at the University of Missouri, believes that America favors billionaires and allows them to “take money and not have to put it back.” He also expressed that the country is “focusing on the money, instead of the people.”

As White and others look towards the future, he says that he would like to see the President do the “bare minimum stuff” and “improve relations with Canada and Mexico”.

For Kara Fortson, she hopes that “the future people are more inclusive and accepting.”

When asked if the United States would make it to its 500th birthday, Charlene Emerson said, “who knows what might happen, but I want to believe that we will, because I think there’s something in the core of the country that’s worth continuing.”

By: Peter Richardson, MO; Lola Perkins (IL); Beckett Griffin (MO); Noah Dieckmann (MO)

Coach Jennifer Moore

Lindsey Cassell– Richmond, VA & Dani Massarweh– Palo Alto, CA

COLUMBIA, MO.– The collective American identity is commonly thought of as a ‘melting pot,’ which is an appropriately culinary metaphor for the ways in which immigrant entrepreneurs from all over the world are continuing to redefine what it means to eat in America. 

Throughout the years, immigration has allowed for more and more opportunities to expand America’s wholly unique palette, and Columbia is no exception– the city has plenty of restaurants that embody the analogy. As the Fourth of July draws near and America prepares to celebrate its historic 250-year anniversary, the iteration of cuisine continues– from Turkish kebabs to Taiwanese bubble tea to Colombian pastries.

The subterranean Dada Döner near Stevens College is somewhat easy to miss, but it’s decidedly difficult to find a better spot for Turkish kebabs, seeing as it’s the only place in the city that serves authentic Turkish food. A popular food truck until its brick-and-mortar debut in 2025, its owner, Vahap Ulker, described it as initially being his “little on-site project.”  He decided to make the restaurant his full-time career after seeing how quick the business was growing.

“This was my little on site project and it started in 2016. I came to Columbia due to my job where I was working at the University of Missouri. Then, in 2023, we started our first food truck and everything went well. A year later, we started our brick and mortar and I just quit my job seven months ago to focus on the business,” Ulker said.

 When asked how cuisine can function as a unifying force, Ulker said that he believes food can be a way to reconnect with past memories.

 “It’s like music, food is the same thing, because food actually builds memory, right? If you have some kind of food when you were little that maybe your mom cooked for you […] Even if you are 50 or 60 years old, if you get the same taste years later, it’s going to make you remember your past, your family, everything. I think feeding is going to bring different people together, and the food is one of the most important things,” Ulker said.

 Similar to Turkey, Colombia adds its own ingredient in the American melting pot. So, for a taste of Colombia in Columbia, look no further than Delysium Artisan Bakery on Elm Street, which is a prime example of the kind of iteration that’s defined American cuisine since its inception. It’s equal parts traditional Colombian bakery and French patisserie. Inside Delysium, flaky, golden tarts and pastries lay neatly arranged in glass display cases like jewel boxes of confectionery delight.

 Marcela Isaza, the owner of Delysium, took a moment while prepping a pain au chocolat to explain the process of opening a restaurant in America, as opposed to her home country of Colombia.

 “So we come from Colombia, and during this period, it was getting more and more difficult for entrepreneurs to make a business. And since I came here for the first time for my [college], we thought that the United States was a good opportunity for opening a business where there was more safety for businesses to be successful, instead of the political environment that we were having back home,” Isaza said.

 Isaza saw in the Midwest a unique opportunity to serve a little slice of underrepresented Colombia alongside the comparatively ubiquitous French pastries that she has on offer.

 “We have products that are more typical like the croissant, but also Hispanic products like the pandebono, which is a cheesy bread that is very popular in Colombia; or the Argentinian empanadas […] We have a broad selection of international pastries that are very unique and that I think people basically appreciate– having that kind of exclusive opportunity, just some steps from downtown,” Isaza said.

 Food tells a story, and when asked what story is told by the food at Delysium, Isaza had this to say:

 “There’s a story of hard work, of the people that came to this country to work as hard as possible and try to do things in the right way […] People are trying to tell that story, and people are trying to work as far as they can to be successful in this country, which is probably the greatest of the American dream [sic],” Isaza said.

 As Isaza continues working hard to tell her story, other restaurant owners in Columbia endeavor to tell theirs. One such entrepreneur is Tzuyang Chao, the owner of “Bubblecup Tea Zone,” which has two Columbia locations: the original on Ninth Street, and a separate operation on Grindstone Parkway. Chao initially immigrated to study at the University of Missouri, and then was inspired to open a restaurant. 

 “I was an immigrant from Taiwan in 2013 and then I went to Columbia, Missouri. I can see that we are a really good town, but I don’t think it’s really diverse enough. So, that’s why I try to run my country’s culture here,” Chao said.

 His passion for his work is rooted in his upbringing, where bubble tea was first invented and where it remains a childhood staple.

 “When I got to middle school, bubble tea was thriving in Taiwan. I usually got two or three a day when I was a kid [sic],” Chao said.

 As America’s historic semiquincentennial approaches, the story of its cuisine remains inseparable from that of its people. Immigrant business owners like Ulker show that the American melting pot is not a finished recipe, but an ongoing process shaped by generations of newcomers.

“When…you have more options for music, food, even clothing, [you have] more variety…and that’s what makes the richness for that country,” said Ulker.